HANA MIKI PROGRAM

Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi Island

In July 2018, Kamehameha Schools Community Engagement & Resources Division in Hawaiʻi Island invited out team to conduct a weekend-long intensive training with more than three dozen community members from 10 organizations and families from all over Hawaiʻi Island. We gathered the ‘Alae post-harvest facility in Hilo.The Kamehameha team purchased all the materials needed in advance. We spent Friday evening getting to know one another since the participants were from all over the island.  We provided an overview of aquaponics, the potential benefits, and the plan for the next two days. As with every Hawaiian gathering, it involved the sharing of food and through it pilina (closeness). 

The following day, we worked together to build a demonstration aquaponics system at the ‘Alae post-harvest facility. All the participants worked together to wash all the cinder.  We also provided a presentation on fish anatomy and plant health as well as pest management. We also made starter plants for everyone to take home to plant in their systems.

On Sunday, we visited the participantsʻ homes and organizational sites that were nearby in Hilo and put together more backyard aquaponics systems.  We returned to the ‘Alae post-harvest facility and did a presentation on the benefits of growing vegetables, medicinal plants and fish in their backyards and in their communities and answered any lingering questions.  The day ended with the rest of the participants taking all the supplies needed back to their homes and in their communities and answered any lingering questions. The day ended with the rest of the participants taking all the supplies needed back to their homes.

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